When it comes to caring for your baby, nail care is often overlooked. In the first few months of life, you may not be too worried about caring for your baby’s nails, but at some point your little one will take a swipe at you, and you will quickly find out how sharp those nails are. Baby nail care is easy—for the most part. Your pediatrician in Edison, Nimisha Shukla, MD, is available to offer helpful tips to ensure proper care for your baby’s nails.

Proper nail care can be as simple as trimming the nails when they get long enough to scratch you. However, your baby may squirm and move around, which makes cutting his or her nails difficult. Nimisha Shukla, MD, Edison pediatrician, wants the process of cutting your baby’s nails to be as easy as possible, which is why we are available to offer friendly advice.

There is no wrong way to cut your baby’s nails, as long as you do not nick the baby, and the nails get trimmed. Your pediatrician in Edison shares some basic tips:

Clean your baby’s hands, feet, and nails during regular bathing.

Hold your baby’s finger and palm steady with one hand and trim with the other.

Press down on the fleshy pad of his or her fingertip to move the skin away from the nail.

Cut along the shape of the nail, and snip any sharp corners or use an emery board.

While these tips may be easy to follow, some parents may still remain concerned about cutting their baby’s nails. If you are still concerned, follow these tips to make the job easier:

Have your partner hold the baby while you trim the nails.

Do it while your baby is sleeping.

Use only baby nail clippers to trim the nails.

Wait until your baby is in a good mood and find something to distract him or her, such as a new video, toy or snack.

Visit Nimisha Shukla, MD, your pediatrician in Edison, for more information on how to care for your baby, including proper nail care.